Women Legislators Endorse Acupuncture

Good news for the acupuncture profession - and the American public - as it seeks a voice in the debate over our country's health care system.

At its annual conference held just outside of Albuquerque, NM earlier this month, the National Foundation of Women Legislators passed a resolution demanding the inclusion of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine in any new health care legislation. See below.

www.aaaomonline.info/Inclusion_of_Acupuncturists_Access_to_Care_Resolution_passed_Sept_2009.pdf

To those in the profession, Chinese Medicine already is legitimate and proven. You won't find a safer, long-lasting way to optimize your health than this holistic medicine. National Institutes of Health statistics also show that more people are choosing alternative medicine, and that acupuncture is one of the most common choices.

No one knows the fate of Obama's health insurance expansion effort. But it is encouraging to see such a studied show of support by some of the nation's most prominent leaders. They certainly heard fom experts before signing on to such a strongly-worded public statement. Progress in advancing this natural, holistic medicine is a self-energizing machine: education leads to more attention which leads to more public education and so on.

It also was heartening to see our leading professional organization's committment to the event. The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine reports spending $35,000 toward the event's total cost. We need to be involved in every way if we're going to have a voice at the table.

All these developments are signs that Chinese Medicine won't sit back and be ignored. Despite efforts by some to write off or belittle acupuncture and related modalities, the medicine continues to survive. It keeps garnering attention both inside and outside the medical field.

Why? Because it works.